Storage and display device

ABSTRACT

A display and storage device particularly suitable for holding uniformly shaped and sized articles. The device consists of two wheels mounted on a common horizontal axis and provided with split storage tubes which can slide in holes in each of the two wheels. A third wheel or disc is placed on the same axis intermediate the two end wheels to hold the tubes in proper location as one of the split sections of a storage tube is moved relative the other section.

United States Patent Inventor William C. Donnithorne Sault Sainte Marie,Ontario, Canada Appl. No. 856,085 Filed Sept. 8, 1969 Patented Nov. 16,1971 Assignee The Algoma Steel Corporation, Limited Sault Sainte Marie,Ontario, Canada Priority May 30, 1969 Canada 53,072

STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE 16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI 206/4515, 206/4531, 211/123, 211/164, 3l2/97.l, 312/135,312/267 Int. Cl B65d 5/50, A47f 5/02 Field of Search 206/4515,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 791,101 5/1905 Klein 312/1351,695,618 12/1928 Thompson 211/164 3,254,928 6/1966 Clatterbuck 3 l2/97.1 2,927,545 3/1960 Hieb 312/267 X FOREIGN PATENTS 462,120 1/1914France 211/164 Primary ExaminerJOSeph R, Leclair AssistantExaminerSteven E. Lipman Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller and MosherABSTRACT: A display and storage device particularly suitable for holdinguniformly shaped and sized articles. The device 'consists of two wheelsmounted on a common horizontal axis and provided with split storagetubes which can slide in holes in each of the two wheels. A third wheelor disc is placed on the same axis intermediate the two end wheels tohold the tubes in proper location as one of the split sections ofastorage tube is moved relative the other section.

STORAGE AND DISPLAY DEVICE This invention relates to a novel display andstorage device particularly suitable for uniformly shaped and sizedarticles. In particular the invention relates to a storage rack adaptedto be rotated about a horizontal axis and provided with a plurality ofaxially split storage tubes.

The display and storage of small, uniformly shaped articles such ascoins, discs and buttons, and in particular cylindrically shapedmetallurgical microspecimens has long constituted a problem. In the caseof metallurgical specimens which are conventionally mounted in athermosetting plastic matrix for ease of handling and polishing formicroscopic examination, the specimens must be stored in such a way thatthey do not become scratched, and are readily accessible at any time forfurther examination or comparison purposes. In many metallurgicaloperations microspecimens are taken, on a routine basis, of all metalcasts for record purposes. It will be appreciated therefore that,although each individual specimen may only measure /x X /-inch and bemounted in a plastic button of about lyrinch diameter and %-inch thick,the storage of many hundreds of such specimens so that they are allreadily accessible is relatively difficult and requires a relativelylarge amount of storage space. Although specific reference has been madeto metallurgical specimens, the storage of many other articles presentssimilar problems and the present invention may easily be adapted tohandle such articles as coins, film spools and cassettes, magnetic tapespools, rock core samples, pharmaceuticals and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient storagedevice for relatively large numbers of regularly shaped articles so thatany selected article may be readily identified and removed withoutdisturbing other stored articles. In a preferred embodiment the storagedevice is adapted to display the stored articles. The invention employsthe wellknown ferris wheel" principle in conjunction with a plurality ofhorizontally mounted and axially split storage tubes. Optionally thestorage tubes are at least partially fabricated from a transparentmaterial so that stored articles are visible through the tubes.

The invention will be more fully described with reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric sketch of one embodiment showing transparenttubes in the closed or stored position,

FIG. 2 is an isometric sketch of an embodiment similar to FIG. 1 showingseveral selected tubes which are opaque in the open or article retrieveposition,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a tube for use in thedevice of FIGS. I and 2 according to a further embodiment oftheinvention, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken along the lines 44 in FIG. 1showing the roller bearings.

As shown in FIG. 1, two wheels 1 and 2 are mounted for rotation about ahorizontal axis on a stand 3. For convenience, stand 3 is provided withvertical sides 4 and 5 adapted to receive wheels 1 and 2 on bearingsurfaces 6 and 7. Wheels 1 and 2 and stand 3 may be of any suitablematerial such as wood, metal or plastics, bearing surfaces 6 and 7 ofuprights 4 and 5 may be coated with a low friction material, such aspolytetrafluoroethylene, or with a lubricant such as paraffin wax or amineral oil. Alternatively, uprights 4 and 5 may be provided with rollerbearings (as shown in FIG. 4) to ensure smooth and easy rotation ofwheels 1 and 2 about a common horizontal axis. Preferably wheels I and 2are rigidly and axially interconnected to ensure there is no relativemovement between them. Alternatively wheels 1 and 2 would be mounted ona common horizontal axle.

In the preferred embodiment, wheels 1 and 2 are provided with aplurality of relatively small holes 8 and 8 equidistantly spaced aroundeach of the wheels adjacent to, but not touching, the periphery of thewheels, at a common distance from the axis of rotation adapted toreceive rigid, longitudinally split tubes 9 which extend between holes 8and 8'. It will, of course, be appreciated that a double circle of holescould equally well be provided if increased load capacity is required.Preferably, but not essentially, the tubes are of a transparent plasticsmaterial (as shown in FIG. 1) such as polystyrene or that sold under thetrade mark PERSPEX, or glass. If the device is to be usedsolely forstorage and not display, the split tubes may be fabricated from anopaque plastic or other material (as shown in FIG. 2) such as steel orother metal. Metal tubes with a clear plastic longitudinal insert forease of identification of the contents may be employed, or opaque tubesmay be provided with a longitudinal slit so that a part of the contentsof the tube are visible for identification (as shown in FIG. 3). Ifopaque tubes are employed, it may be necessary to provide a numberingsystem on the inside of the split tubes with a corresponding key outsidethe tube in order to provide for rapid identification of a selectedobject stored in the tube. The reason for longitudinal splitting of thetubes will be more apparent hereinafter.

The device is also provided with a third wheel or disc 10 havingcorresponding holes 8" and located midway between wheels I and 2. Wheel10 may be provided with a bearing corresponding to uprights 4 and 5, butthis is not essential and is not shown in the embodiment shown in FIGS.1 and 2. Wheel 10 is provided to maintain split tubes 9 in parallellongitudinal relationship to each other both when the two halves of eachtube are in abutting relationship and when one half of the tube is slidaway from the other half to expose the contents of the tube.

As seen in FIG. 2, the wheels 1 and 2 can be rotated to any selectedposition so that a selected tube 9 is uppermost. Either half of theselected tube 9 can be slid in relation-to the other half to expose theinterior of the tube. Either the top half tube 11 can be withdrawn tothe center disc 10 thus exposing the contents 12 resting on lower halftube 13, or the lower half tube 14 can be withdrawn, with contents 15,leaving the top half tube 16 in place. It will be noted that in no caseis a half tube withdrawn past center disc 10, in order that properalignment of the tubes may be maintained.

Thus, by either visual inspection of the stored articles through atransparent, or partially transparent tube, or by reference to anumbered key to articles in an opaque tube, any desired tube can beselected, rotated to the most convenient position for opening and eitherthe upper or lower half tube withdrawn through an appropriate wheel,thus exposing any selected stored article for removal and examination orsale as the case may be.

The novel device may be of any convenient size depending on the type ofarticles stored therein, and although the device is particularlysuitable for the storage of solid objects having a circular crosssection, it may also be employed to store solid objects havingnoncircular cross sections, such as hexagonal, square, rectangular andthe like. For storage of noncircular section objects it may be desirableto employ similarly noncircular storage tubes, and therefore in thisspecification the term tube is not to be construed as limited only tocircular cross section elongated bodies having an internal cavity but toinclude all regular cross section bodies having the acceptedcharacteristics of tubes. Similarly a tube which is axially split intotwo equal sections has been described, but it will be appreciated thatthe tubes could equally well be split into three or even more sectionswith equal effect. The device could also be employed to store phials ofboth solid and liquid phar maceuticals.

In certain circumstances it may be desirable that the articles in thetubes are stored out of contact with the atmosphere, for example, toprevent corrosion, deposition of dust and the like. In these cases it isnecessary to cap the ends of the tubes or provide a closure disc on theouter sides of wheels I and 2. The closure disc may be provided with asingle hole and it may be rotated, independently of its associatedwheel, to a desired position so that the selected tube may be withdrawnthrough the single hole.

It will be appreciated that tube caps of many conventional varieties maybe employed and need not be described in detail herein. in thoseinstances where low humidity storage is desired, a dessicant may beplaced in a tube and the ends capped. To prevent leakage along thelength of the slit tubes 9, longitudinal rubber or the like seals may beprovided, or alternatively a silicone-grease-type seal could be used.

A further embodiment of the present invention includes a brake on one orboth wheels I and 2 so that the device may be rapidly stopped and lockedat a desired position. Any conventional frictional or band brake couldbe employed. Many other modifications will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for storing articles comprising:

a plurality of rigid tubes, each of which is longitudinally split alongits length into at least two sections adapted to slide relative to eachother; a pair of wheels mounted on a stand for rotation about a commonhorizontal axis and being adapted to accommodate said plurality of rigidtubes in sliding parallel relationship therebetween; and a disc mountedalong said common horizontal axis between said wheels and adapted tomaintain said tubes in parallel relationship when one of said sectionsslides relative to another section.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wheels are rigidlyinterconnected to prevent relative movement between them.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are evenlydistributed adjacent the periphery of said wheels.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes have a circularcross section.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are split into twosections.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are split into twoequal semicircular sections.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are fabricated froma transparent material.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are fabricated froman opaque material.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are fabricatedsubstantially from an opaque material and include a longitudinal sectionfabricated from a transparent material.

10. A storage device comprising:

a plurality of rigid tubes of circular cross section. each of which islongitudinally split into a pair of semicircular sections adapted toslide relative to each other; a pair of rigidly interconnected wheelsmounted on a stand for rotation about a common horizontal axis, saidwheels being adapted to hold between them said tubes in horizontal,sliding and parallel relationship to each other; and a disc mounted onsaid common horizontal axis midway between said wheels and adapted topermit said tubes to slide through a plurality of locating holestherein, whereby to maintain said sections of said tubes in parallelrelationship as a preselected one of said sections of a preselected tubeslides relative to the other.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tubes are fabricatedfrom a transparent plastic material.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tubes are substantiallythe same length as the horizontal distance between said wheels.

13. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tubes have a lengthgreater than the horizontal distance between said wheels, whereby tofacilitate sliding of a preselected one of said sections of apreselected tube relative to the other section of said preselected tube.

14. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said wheels are each mountedon a plurality of roller bearings.

15. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said wheels are mounted onbearings, and said device includes means to prevent longitudinalmovement of said wheels relative to said bearin s.

l6. device as claimed m claim 11 wherein the longitudinal axes of saidtubes are equidistantly disposed around said wheels adjacent theperiphery thereof.

* t I! I 1

1. A device for storing articles comprising: a plurality of rigid tubes,each of which is longitudinally split along its length into at least twosections adapted to slide relative to each other; a pair of wheelsmounted on a stand for rotation about a common horizontal axis and beingadapted to accommodate said plurality of rigid tubes in sliding parallelrelationship therebetween; and a disc mounted along said commonhorizontal axis between said wheels and adapted to maintain said tubesin parallel relationship when one of said sections slides relative toanother section.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wheelsare rigidly interconnected to prevent relative movement between them. 3.A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are evenly distributedadjacent the periphery of said wheels.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1wherein said tubes have a circular cross section.
 5. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein said tubes are split into two sections.
 6. A deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are split into two equalsemicircular sections.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidtubes are fabricated from a transparent material.
 8. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein said tubes are fabricated from an opaque material. 9.A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tubes are fabricatedsubstantially from an opaque material and include a longitudinal sectionfabricated from a transparent material.
 10. A storage device comprising:a plurality of rigid tubes of Circular cross section, each of which islongitudinally split into a pair of semicircular sections adapted toslide relative to each other; a pair of rigidly interconnected wheelsmounted on a stand for rotation about a common horizontal axis, saidwheels being adapted to hold between them said tubes in horizontal,sliding and parallel relationship to each other; and a disc mounted onsaid common horizontal axis midway between said wheels and adapted topermit said tubes to slide through a plurality of locating holestherein, whereby to maintain said sections of said tubes in parallelrelationship as a preselected one of said sections of a preselected tubeslides relative to the other.
 11. A device as claimed in claim 10wherein said tubes are fabricated from a transparent plastic material.12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tubes are substantiallythe same length as the horizontal distance between said wheels.
 13. Adevice as claimed in claim 10 wherein said tubes have a length greaterthan the horizontal distance between said wheels, whereby to facilitatesliding of a preselected one of said sections of a preselected tuberelative to the other section of said preselected tube.
 14. A device asclaimed in claim 10 wherein said wheels are each mounted on a pluralityof roller bearings.
 15. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein saidwheels are mounted on bearings, and said device includes means toprevent longitudinal movement of said wheels relative to said bearings.16. A device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the longitudinal axes ofsaid tubes are equidistantly disposed around said wheels adjacent theperiphery thereof.